Television

MTV's Osbournes to premiere in Europe, Africa

09 Oct, 2002 - 05:00 PM IST | By indiantelevision.com Team

CANNES/LONDON/NEW YORK : MTV Networks International has confirmed terrestrial deals with broadcasters across Europe and in Southern Africa to air the MTV reality series The Osbournes. These include RTE in Ireland, TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in Denmark, Channel 4 in Finland, Holland MG in the Netherlands, TV Norge in Norway, VTM in Belgium, IBC in Iceland and SABC in South Africa.

The deals are for both the series first season (ten, half-hour episodes) and second season (20, half-hour episodes) of the show, currently in production. The first rights to premiere both the first and second seasons of The Osbournes are held by MTVs local channels around the world. Terrestrial broadcast deals with Channel 4 in the UK, CTV in Canada, Network TEN in Australia and TV New Zealand have already been announced.

A second season of 20 episodes of The Osbournes is currently in production, featuring the same insanity, affection, mayhem and drama that have become the familys calling cards. MTV is once again being given 24 hour unlimited access and will follow the family over several months to record and capture their daily lives.

Since debuting in March on MTV in the US to the highest ratings ever enjoyed by a new series, The Osbournes first season has gone on to deliver top ratings worldwide, across both MTV Channels and third party broadcast partners. In the UK, The Osbournes was MTVs highest rated series premiere ever and boosted MTV position to the #4 most watched channel in that time slot, ahead of the BBC (Source: Barb/MTV UK). In Australia, Network TENs premiere of the show garnered top ratings for the show, making it the most-watched show in its timeslot (Source: OzTAM). In Canada, CTV premiered The Osbournes this week, drawing 1.67 million viewers, says the release, quoting Nielsen Media Research.

The show follows the real-life drama of Ozzy Osbourne and his family. Father/rock-star/bat-eater Ozzy, wife/mother/manager Sharon, and their teenage kids Jack and Kelly bare all before the cameras for a fascinating and hilarious look at family life, Osbourne-style.